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Constructivist Learning

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Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning

Synonyms

Effective learning; Meaningful learning

Definition

The word constructivist is an adjective that comes from the noun constructivism which specifies the theory about the nature of reality and the theory of knowledge (epistemology) founded on the basis that humans generate knowledge and meaning from their experiences, mental structures, and beliefs that are used to interpret objects and events. Constructivism focuses on the importance of the individual knowledge, beliefs, and skills through the experience of learning. It states that the construction of understanding is a combination of prior knowledge and new information. Individuals can accept new ideas or fit them into their established views of the world. Constructivist learningis a theory about how people learn. It states that learning happens when learners construct meaning by interpreting information in the context of their own experiences. In other words, learners construct their own understandings of the world by...

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References

  • Brooks, J. G., & Brooks, M. G. (1999). In search of understanding: The case for constructivist classrooms. Alexandria: ASCD - Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

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  • Dewey, J. (1966). Democracy and education. New York: Free Press.

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  • Jonassen, D. (1999). Designing constructivist learning environments. In C. Reigeluth (Ed.), Instructional design theories and models: A new paradigm of instructional theory (Vol. II, pp. 215–239). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

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  • Piaget, J. (1973). To understand is to invent. New York: Grossman.

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  • von Glasersfeld, E. (1996). Introduction: Aspects of constructivism. In C. Fosnot (Ed.), Constructivism: Theory, perspectives, and practice (pp. 3–7). New York: Teachers College Press.

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  • Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. MA: Harvard University Press.

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Correspondence to Aytac Gogus .

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Gogus, A. (2012). Constructivist Learning. In: Seel, N.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_142

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_142

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1427-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1428-6

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